Amusement device



"May 1o, 1932.

T. A. RICCI AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Nav. 28. 1930 Patented May 10, 1932 PATENT OFFICE.

THoMAs A. moet, oF nIoHMoNn, VIRGINIA AMUSEMENT DEVICE Application led November 28, 1930. Serial No. 498,716.

My invention relates to an amusement device, and one of its objects is the provision of an apparatus for registering one or more signals simultaneously.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a' portable electrically controlled device adapted to register one or more signal lights in separate circuits made by the provision of a rotatable wheel having brushes se- 19 cured thereto.

Other objects'rand features will more fully appear from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is perspective in elevation; Fig. 2,

15. a side view; Fig. 3, a diagrammatic plan view showing the circuits, contacts, and connections of the electrical hookup; and Fig. 4, an enlarged sectional view showing the segmental contacts.

Referring to the drawings, a portable cabinet 41 consisting of a top 42 and bottom 43 pivotally connectedby hinges 44, has a lock 45 for securing said top and bottom together.

A non-conductive partition 46 secured in said top, has electrical sockets 47 therein adapted to accommodate electric light bulbs 48. A similar partition 49 is secured in said bottom and has arranged thereon.I in circumferential fashion, an inner path' of segmental contacts 50 in spaced relation to each other. An outer path of contacts 51 is also disposed in said partition in a circular manner and spaced a greater distance apart than said inner contacts 50. The said inner and outer contacts are connected bv wires (Fig. 2) which pass through a cable 52 (disposed in slots 53 and 54 respectively located in said bottom and top) to the rear of partition 46 and connect with said sockets, as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

A metallic wheel 55 rotatable on an' axle 56 secured to partition 49, is provided with sliding brushes 57 and 58 secured to a spoke 59 of said wheel. These sliding brushes are positioned so that they'will respectivelyregister with contacts 50 and 51, and it is obvious from the foregoing that when the wheel is rotated, each brush will engage the particular contacts in consecutive fashion. The segmental contacts 50v (Fig. 4) have one of their edges 60 struck in an upward fashion thereby causing them to be in spaced relation to each other,.,and also providing an overlapping flange on each contact which prevents the brush from coming to rest upon a portion of the non-conductive partition 49. It is readily obvious from the foregoing that the brush 57 will always come to rest upon one of the contacts 50.

Each bulb may be provided with a symbol or number, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the bulbs are numbered from l to 20 inclusive, and one designated by the letter R.

When the metallic wheel is rotated, the brushes 57 and 58 respectively ride over the inner contacts 50 and outer contacts 51, and when the former come to rest, one of the bulbs (1 to 20) light and it bruslr58 engages one of the contacts 51, the bulb R will light. The

foregoing will be more fully understood by reference to the diagrammatic electrical sketch shown in Fig. 3, in conjunction with the following explanation:

'When the wheel comes to rest the brush 5.7, for example, will engage one of the segmental contacts 50 and current will flow through the positive wire 65, which leads from a source of electrical power (not shown) through a switch 66` wire 67 connecting with the axle 56, metallic wheel 55, brush 57, segmentaly Contact 50; wire 68, bulb number 1, wire 69, and thence to the negative side of wire 70 returning to said source of power. Itis obvious from the foregoing that bulbs numbered 1 to Q0 inclusive are illuminated by series circuits similar to that just described.

lVhen brush 58 engages one of the outer contacts 51, the following circuit produced: current flows froml the positive wire through switch 66, wire 67. axle 56. wheel 55, brush 58. outer contact 51. connecting wires 71. wire 79.. light R. and thence to the negative wire leading to the source of power. It is obvious that the foregoing is what iscommonly termed a shunt. circuit. and will be created whenever brush engages any of said contacts 51. It will also be seen that while one of the bulbs numbered 1 to 20 will always light when the brush 5T comes to rest on one of said inner contacts; the bulb R will not necessarily light, since the contacts are spaced farther apart and the brush 58 may come to rest upon the non-conductive partition. p

It is readily apparent that any number of shunt circuits, such as that which includes the bulb R, may be utilized and I do not restrict myself' to the exact circuits disclosed, but claim all variations within the ordinary scope of this invention. y

Frein the foregoing it'is obvious that an amusing and pleasant game may be enjoyed by one or more persons Who select a numbered bulb, rotate the Wheel, and when a selected bulb lights, much pleasure will be afforded. The outer contacts are of an equal quantity as said inner contacts, thereby making it possible for the bulb R to light with any of the bulbs 1 to 20.

While I am aware ot' amusement devices of the wheel type, I know of none utilizing a single Wheel to operate two separate circuits simultaneously.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In an amusement device of the charac-- ter described consisting of a casing having a partition, a path of inner contacts mounted on said partition 'connected'to an electrical circuit having signals therein; a path of outer contacts mounted on said partition connected to an electrical circuit having signals therein, a rotatable Wheel, a pair of brushes secured to said Wheel and adapted to respectively engage said inner and outer contacts to operate one or more signals.

2. In an amusement device of the charac-ter described consisting of an inner path of flanged electrical contacts connected to an electrical circuit having signals therein, an outer path of contacts having a signal therein, a rotatable wheel in operative relation with said contacts, a pair of brushes adapted to respectively engage said inner and outer path of contacts and operate one or more signals.

ter described`r the combination of a plurality of inner contacts respectively in circuit with signals, a plurality of outer contacts respectively in circuit with a signal, and a rotatable Wheel having a pair of brushes secured thereto for respectively engaging said inner and outer contacts to cause one or more signals to operate.

4. In an amusement device of the character described consisting of a portable casing formed by a top and bottom, a partition in said top for signals mounted thereon, a partition in said bottom, a rotatable Wheel disposed on said last named partition, an inner path of contacts in said bottom partition respectively in circuit with certain of said signals, an outer path of contacts on said bottom partition in circuit with a signal in said top partition, a pair of brushes secured to 3. In an amusement device of the charac-y said vvheel and adapted to respectively engage said inner and outer contacts to form circuits and operate one or more signals.

5. In an amusement device of the character described having a plurality of inner contacts respectively connected to series circuits, a signal' in each of said circuits, a plurality of outer contacts connected to a circuit shunted around said series circuits, a signal in said shunt circuit, and means in operative relation with said inner and outer contacts for operating one or more signals.

In testimony whereof I have. hereunto set my name this 15th day of November, 1930. THOMAS A. RICCI. 

